Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duealkowi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Duealkowi’, characterized by its compact, semi-upright and outwardly spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEALKOWI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duealkowi’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Calibrachoa plants with large attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A09-4850-001, not patented. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within a group of A09-4850-001 plants in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duealkowi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duealkowi’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Compact, semi-upright and outwardly spreading to trailing and         decumbent plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large white-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the parent selection in flower color as plants of the parent selection have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of Calibrachoa sp. ‘Cal White’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,497. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed primarily from plants of ‘Cal White’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more vigorous than plants         of ‘Cal White’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more freely branching than         plants of ‘Cal White’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Cal White’.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants         of ‘Cal White’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duealkowi’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 30-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were 13 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duealkowi’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary     selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A09-4850-001,     not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, semi-upright and outwardly             spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely             branching habit with about twelve primary lateral branches             developing per plant; pinching enhances branching; vigorous             growth habit; moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 75 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 37 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing             and decumbent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 8.2 mm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,             close to N137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146A; venation, close to 146A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.8 mm. Diameter: About 1.2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to 143A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 260 to 280 flowers developing per plant; flowers face             upright or outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about four             to five weeks after planting; plants flower continuously             from the spring throughout the summer in Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 3 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 8.4 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 2 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 5.6 mm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to 150D.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.7 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Mostly rounded to slightly             retuse. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when             opening, upper surface: Close to NN155A. Petal, when             opening, lower surface: Close to 155C. Petal, fully opened,             upper surface: Close to N155B; venation, close to 174B;             color becoming closer to N155C with development. Petal,             fully opened, lower surface: Close to N155B; venation, close             to 153A. Throat: Close to 153C; venation, close to 152C.             Tube: Close to 153C; venation, close to 152C.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;             sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.2 cm. Sepal             width: About 2.8 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 138A.             Color, lower surface: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Six per flower.             Filament length: About 6 mm. Filament color: Close to 144D.             Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther             color: Close to 151B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 151A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 1 cm. Style length: About 8.6 mm. Style color:             Close to 145B. Stigma shape: Ellipsoidal. Stigma color:             Close to 145A. Ovary color: Close to 145A. Seeds and fruits:             Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants             of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duealkowi’ as illustrated and described. 